adding more deck inspection plates?

[lime4x4]

I want to replace all my drains and hoses for my live well and bait well. It's on a 1986 offshore 24. I c no way of getting at the drains and hose unless i cut the deck up. So i was thinking of adding 2 6 inch inspection plates by each drain tube. Would that weaken the floor to much?

 

[seasick]

I want to replace all my drains and hoses for my live well and bait well. It's on a 1986 offshore 24. I c no way of getting at the drains and hose unless i cut the deck up. So i was thinking of adding 2 6 inch inspection plates by each drain tube. Would that weaken the floor to much?

If the deck is sturdy to start with, the inspection plates should be OK but you need to research exactly how the drain lines are run. There may be runs from the side of the box to the outer hull and that may not be accesible from the proposed inspection plate. I can't say for sure but my overflow (a different hull) needs an access plate on the side of the inner deck to get to the piping, not on the floor of the deck.

 

[DennisG01]

John, if you can wait till sometime into the winter, I'll be removing a good section of my flooring to replace the wood. At that point, I might get a really good look at where things are. You could stop by sometime if you want - I'm only about 10 minutes from Peters Marine.

 

[lime4x4]

Yeah that works for me just let me know when... Thanks